Pickup and drop off zones for autonomous vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017192432-A1
Application number	US-201715410242-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 19, 2017
Priority date	Dec 1, 2015
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to providing information about a vehicle dispatched to pick up the user. In one example, a request for the vehicle to stop at a particular location is sent. In response, information identifying a current location of the vehicle is received. A map is generated. The map includes a first marker identifying the received location of the vehicle, a second marker identifying the particular location, and a shape defining an area around the second marker at which the vehicle may stop. The shape has an edge at least a minimum distance greater than zero from the second area. A route is displayed on the map between the first marker and the shape such that the route ends at the shape and does not reach the second marker. Progress of the vehicle towards the area along the route is displayed based on received updated location information for the vehicle.

First claim

1 . A method comprising:
sending, by a client computing device having one or more processors, a request for a vehicle to stop at a particular location; in response to the request, receiving, by the client computing device, information identifying a current location of the vehicle; receiving, by the client computing device, a pickup spot indicating where the vehicle may stop; generating, by the client computing device, a map for display, the map including a first marker identifying the particular location and a second marker identifying the pickup spot relative to the first marker; and displaying, by the client computing device, on a display of the client computing device, the map, the first marker on the map, and the second marker on the map.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the client computing device, a current location of the client computing device; and displaying, by the client computing device, on the display, a third marker on the map indicating the current location of the client computing device in order to indicate to a potential passenger of the vehicle the location of the client computing device relative to the pickup spot.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying, by the client computing device, on the display, a fourth marker on the map indicating the current location of the vehicle relative to the first marker and the second marker.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
displaying, by the client computing device, on the display, a route on the map between the second marker and the fourth marker.

5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising displaying, on the display, a shape defining an area around the first marker at which the vehicle may stop, the shape having an edge at least a minimum distance greater than zero from the first marker.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
when the fourth marker is depicted within the area, no longer displaying the shape.

7 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising when the vehicle identifies the pickup spot, no longer displaying the shape.

8 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising when the vehicle identifies the pickup spot, shrinking the area on the display towards the second marker.

9 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising when the vehicle begins a parking procedure, shrinking the area on the display towards the second marker.

10 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising when the vehicle is in the pickup spot, shrinking the area on the display towards the second marker.

11 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising displaying, a status indicator indicating whether the vehicle has found a spot within the area to stop the vehicle.

12 . A system comprising:
a display; and one or more processors configured to:
send a request for a vehicle to stop at a particular location;
in response to the request, receive information identifying a current location of the vehicle;
receive a pickup spot indicating where the vehicle may stop; and
generate a map for display, the map including a first marker identifying the particular location and a second marker identifying the pickup spot relative to the first marker; and
display, on the display, the map, the first marker on the map, and the second marker on the map.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
display, on the display, a fourth marker on the map indicating the current location of the vehicle relative to the first marker and the second marker.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
display, on the display, a route on the map between the second marker and the fourth marker.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
display, on the display, a shape defining an area around the first marker at which the vehicle may stop, the shape having an edge at least a minimum distance greater than zero from the first marker

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to display a status indicator indicating whether the vehicle has found a spot within the area to stop the vehicle.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, when the vehicle identifies the pickup spot, shrink the area on the display towards the second marker.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, when the vehicle begins a parking procedure, shrink the area on the display towards the second marker.

19 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising the vehicle.

20 . A non-transitory, tangible, computer readable medium on which instructions are stored, the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising:
sending a request for a vehicle to stop at a particular location; in response to the request, receiving information identifying a current location of the vehicle; receiving a pickup spot indicating where the vehicle may stop; generating a map for display, the map including a first marker identifying the particular location and a second marker identifying the pickup spot relative to the first marker; and displaying, on a display, the map, the first marker on the map, and the second marker on the map.

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Arden Jennifer
• Cullinane Brian Douglas
• Chan Min Li
• Hubert Renaud-Roland

Classifications

• G08G1/205

  Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental · CPC title

• G01C21/362

  received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application · CPC title

• G01C21/367

  Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker · CPC title

• G01C21/3667

  Display of a road map (G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635) · CPC title

• G01C21/3438

  Rendezvous; Ride sharing · CPC title